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Tim Montgomery on Bolt: I pray that he's clean

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In the 11 years since Tim Montgomery set the world record in the 100 meters, the time has fallen considerably. The 9.78-second sprint he clocked in Paris in September 2002 was the fastest

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Tim Montgomery on Bolt: I pray that he's clean

Rachel Axon, USA TODAY Sports
8:05 p.m. EDT September 10, 2013

Jamaica's Usain Bolt, the current world record holder, is the only runner besides Nesta Carter who has run a faster time than Montgomery and not been tied to performance enhancing drugs.(Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

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He has seen current world's fastest man improve form and strength over years

Bolt one of two who has run a faster time than Montgomery and not been tied to doping

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In the 11 years since Tim Montgomery set the world record in the 100 meters, the time has fallen considerably.

The 9.78-second sprint he clocked in Paris in September 2002 was the fastest ever at the time but would later be disqualified after he received a two-year ban in 2005 from The Court of Arbitration for Sport for doping. Although Montgomery never tested positive, he admitted in 2008 to taking testosterone and human growth hormone over an 17-month span in 2000 and '01.

Since posting that time, six men have had better marks. Jamaican Nesta Carter matched Montgomery's time. He has not been tied to doping.

American Justin Gatlin ran a 9.77 but had his record annulled after testing positive for banned substances. Jamaican Asafa Powell matched that time in two races and ran a 9.72 in 2008. He tested positive for a banned substance in June.

American Tyson Gay and Jamaican Yohan Blake each clocked 9.69 seconds, but both have been tied to doping. Gay tested positive in June. Blake served a three-month ban in 2009.

Besides Montgomery, Gatlin is the only one to have his time disqualified.

Usain Bolt, the current world record holder, is the only runner besides Carter who has run a faster time than Montgomery and not been tied to performance enhancing drugs. The Jamaican has the three fastest times ever and set the current world record (9.58 seconds) in 2009.

Montgomery has not seen Bolt, 27, since he was a teenager but has watched his form improve over the years. While Montgomery says he thinks the sport has as big of a doping problem now as it did when he competed, he hopes Bolt does not get tied to PEDs.

"I cannot give you my opinion on Bolt," he says. "I sit back and watched him when he was 18 years old and how he ran, wild running and how he fixed his form and everything else, I pray that he's clean. I pray. If he goes down, it's gonna set track and field back big time.

"I would love to see what his training is to run that fast. I want to see what his bench press is, what his squats (are)," he says. "9.58, oh my goodness, what is he doing?"